Birdhouse



A rii 1, 1941. v 2.236.593

BIRD'HOUSE Filed July 19, 1938 4 sheets-sheet" 1 km Y I INVENTOR. IMORRIS E BOOT/f A'ITQRNEYS.

April 1, 1941.

M. F. BOOTH 2,236,593

BIRDHOUSE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 NVENTOR. MORE/5E 5007/7 Patented Apr. 1, 1941BIRDHOUSE Morris F. Booth, Alden, Mich. Application July 19, 1938,Serial No. 220,069

8 Claims.

This invention relates to birdhouses and particularly to that type ofbirdhouse which is made up of detachably connected pieces wherebythehouse may be assembled or disassembled with ease.

An object of the present invention is to provide a birdhouse which maybe easily taken apart forcleaning or for shipping.

Another object of the invention has to do with a novel constructionarrangement in which a birdhouse may be built up piece by piece andfirmly fastened together to provide a solid structure. An additionalobject has to do with that feature of the construction which permits thebirdhouse to be bodily removed from its supporting bottom member so thatthe birdhouse may be readily cleaned.

A further object of the invention relates to a novel construction forventilating a plurality of compartments in a birdhouse without exposingthe same to the weather; and to a novel roof construction which doesaway with the necessity of forming a slanting roof.

A still further feature of the invention has to do with the novel roofconstruction which permits water to be retained on the top thereof tocool the house and serve as a bird bath.

Other objects and features of the invention have to do with details ofconstruction and assembly and with be brought out in the followingdescription and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig.- 1 is a, perspective view of the assembled house.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view taken on the lines 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the lines 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating certain of the details of theconstruction at the corner posts.

Fig. 5 is a section in the corner post taken on the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates an end portion of a roof piece for the birdhouse.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail sections taken on the lines '|'l and 8-8respectively, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 shows an end of one of theledge members of the birdhouse.

Referring to Fig. 1, the base of the multiplecompartment birdhouse isdesignated generally. as It! and the main elements of the structurecon-.

sist of corner posts lower and'upperside members I2 and |2a and I3 and|3a, lower and tively, of the corner posts ll.

upper ledges l4 and H), a roof I6, a roof covering I! and roof retainingbars I8 and I9.

In Fig. 4, certain of the details of construction are illustrated. Thecorner post II is provided with vertical slots 20 and 2| on adjacentinside faces thereof. The ends of the lower side members |2a and I30.are fitted into these slots 20 and 2|, as shown. The side members l2a,and |3a are also provided with grooves 22 and 23, respectively, atdifferent levels from the floor Ill. These grooves 22 and 23 may eitherbe cut in from the vertical surfaces of the side members |2a and |3a asshown in Fig. 4, or they, may be cut in the edges of the members, ifsuch is desired. (See'grooves 24, Fig. 2.) Positioned directly above thelower side members I2a and |3a are the lower sides l2 and I3 which alsohave their ends retained in slots 2|] and ill, respec- Directly abovethe side members I2 and I3 are found the ledges I l and I5. These ledgeshave notches cut therein to receive the corner posts and they aremitered as at 25 so that a neat joint is formed. If desired the miteredsurfaces may be slotted and a feather piece 26 inserted therein to holdthe ledges in line (Fig. 1).

The details of the end formation of the ledges l4 and I5 are shownparticularly in Fig. 9 where it will be seen that a notch 32 in theledge provides a projecting portion 33 to be receivedby the slots 20 or2|. The top surface of the member M, as shown in Fig. 9, is actually thelower surface in the assembly and is provided with spaced grooves 34,one of which is shown in Fig. 9. The function of these grooves willlater be referred to.

- Passing through the grooves 22 and 23 in the slides |2a and |3a arerods 21 and 2B which pass from one corner post to another to hold theparts assembled. In Fig. 5 these rods are shown each provided with athreaded end 29 which is received in a threaded cap 30 having anenlarged head 3|. The other ends of the rods 21 and 28 may be providedsimply with an enlarged end.

The second story of the birdhouse is built up in substantially the samemanner as the first story described in connection with Fig. 4. Above theledges I4 and 5, the upper side members I20. and |3a are placed and, inturn, upper'sides l2 and I3 with ledges I4 and I5 are superimposed, alljoining the corner posts Each of the sides I2 is provided with birdopenings 35 and each of the sides I3 is provided with a bird opening 36.Passing through the upper side members l2 and 3 are grooves 24. see Fig.2, through which rods 3'! and 38 project between the corner posts H aspreviously described in connection with rods 2'! and 28. When the sideshave thus been built up to the upper ledges l4 and I5, Fig. 1,partitions to be supported by the bottom of the house, may then beplaced in the birdhouse. These partitions are provided for each story ofthe birdhouse and consist of longitudinal members 39 and cross members40 which are interlocked to provide the nine compartments shown, forexample, in Fig. 3. Between the upper and lower partitions a floor islocated formed of pieces M and 62 which are supported by the lowerpartition members and notched at the comers to receive the corner postsII.

The top of the birdhouse, which is generally indicated at i6, iscomposed of flat pieces 43 extending between the top ledge members I 4.The end pieces 43 are notched at the corners to receive the corner postsI I. Covering the top pieces 63 is a Waterproof asphalt or tar paper I!which is held fiat against the top 43 by cross bars I 8 and I9, the endsof which are fitted intothe slots and 2| of the corner posts. Theseretaining bars 18 and i9 are pressed tightly down against the waterproofcovering i! which projects past the roof pieces 43 to cover portions ofthe top ledge members M and I5. Plugs 44 may be used to fill the top ofthe slots 29 and 2| and to hold the retaining bars I8 and iii inposition if such is necessary.

Each of the eight outside compartments on each floor is open to oneentrance aperture or 36 and each is ventilated by the slots 34 in'theledges It and [5. Each ledge l4 and I5 is provided with three slots 34spaced to register with a compartment, Fig. 2. The corner compartmentsare thus open to two of the slots while the middle compartments are opento one.

The bottom of the birdhouse which has been generally designated as 10,preferably is formed of two boards and d6 which are joined at anadjacent edge by a dovetail joint shown in Fig. 7. The ends of theboards 45 and 46 are bordered by strips 4'! which are dovetailed intoslots 48 in said ends. Passing through the slots 48 are rods 49 servingto hold the bottom portions together, Fig. 8. Studs are doweled into thebottom at each corner thereof, Fig. 3, directly adjacent a corner postand sides I211 whereby the entire birdhouse assembly is fixed on thebottom against a relative sliding movement. Hooks 5| serve to fasten thebottom to the superstructure, Fig. 1.

When the birdhouse is to be cleaned or painted, the hooks 5! arereleased and the entire building may be removed from the bottom I0simply by lifting the same away from the studs 50. Since the partitionsof both stories of the house are supported on the bottom, they willreadily slip from the shell of the house and may be cleanedconveniently. In this way the roof assembly may be made a permanent one.

It will be seen, then, that the birdhouse is so formed that it iscompletely knock-down to permit a convenient shipping package to be madeof the parts. Additional stories may be added to the assembly simply byproviding longer corner posts and building up the structure with partsidentical with those described. Similarly, added length or width may begiven to the assembly by utilizing the corner posts as shown andproviding longer sides.

On the top of the structure the retaining bars in conjunction with thecorner posts form a tight wall surrounding and raised from the roofcovering I1. In this way a reservoir is formed which will catchrainfall. A bird bath is thus formed on the top of the house and alsothe evaporation of water from said reservoir will cool the upper storiesof the house considerably.

What I claim is:

1. A multiple-compartment birdhouse compris ing a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side membersfor said birdhouse having ends to be detachably received by said slots,partition members arranged within the said side members to form aplurality of compartments in cooperation with said side members,apertures formed in said side members, each leading to a compartment,and a roof over said compartments comprising one or more cross piecessupported by said side members, a relative ly fiat waterproof sheetcovering said cross pieces and extending between said posts, andrestraining bars detachably positioned between said posts to hold thecovering in position.

2. A multiple-compartment birdhouse comprising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be receivedby said slots, partitionmembers arranged within the said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments in cooperation with said side walls, apertures formed insaid walls, each leading to a compartment, a roof over said compartmentscomprising one or more cross pieces supported by said side walls and awaterproof sheet covering said cross pieces and extending between saidposts, and retaining bars between said corner posts for holding saidsheet and said roof cross pieces in position.

3. A multiple-compartment birdhouse comprising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side Walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within the said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments in cooperation with said side walls, apertures formed insaid walls, each leading to a compartment, a

roof over said compartments comprising one or more cross piecessupported by said side walls and a Waterproof sheet covering said crosspieces and extending between said posts, and retaining bars between saidcorner posts for holding said sheet and said roof cross pieces inposition and arranged to fit snugly against said sheet and said posts,to form a reservoir to retain rainfall which may serve as a bird bathand cooling medium for said house. I

4. A multiple-compartment birdhouse comprismg a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments at difierent levels in cooperation with said side walls,apertures formed in horizontal rows in said side walls, each leading toa compartment, and outwardly projecting ledges on said side Walls overeach row of apertures, said ledges having projecting portions forengaging said slots in said corner posts, and a roof over saidcompartments.

5. A multiple-compartment birdhouse com rising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments at different levels in cooperation withsaid side walls,

apertures formed in horizontal rows in said side.

walls, each leading to a compartment, and outwardly projecting ledges onsaid side walls over each row of apertures, said ledges havingprojecting portions for engaging said slots in said corner posts, and aroof over said compartments, said ledges having openings leading to eachof said compartments from the outside of said house to affordventilation of said compartments.

6. A multiple-compartment birdhouse comprising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments at different levels in cooperation with said side walls,apertures formed in horizontal rows in said side walls, each leading toa compartment, and outwardly projecting ledges on said side walls overeach row of apertures, said ledges having projecting portions forengaging said slots in said corner posts, and a roof over saidcompartments, said ledges having openings in the bottom surfaces thereofleading to each of said compartments from the outside of said house toafiord ventilation of said compartments.

7. A multiple-compartment birdhouse comprising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side membersfor said birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within said side members to form a plurality ofcompartments at difierent levels in cooperation with said side members,apertures formed in horizontal rows in said side members, each leadingto a compartment, and outwardly projecting ledges on said side membersover each row of apertures, said ledges having projecting portions forengaging said slots, and retaining rods between said corner posts forholding said posts, sides, and ledges in assembled relation whereby thebirdhouse assembly may be removed bodily from said bottom piece topermit cleaning thereof.

8. A multiple-compartment birdhouse c0mprising a bottom piece, cornerposts supported thereby and provided with vertical slots, side walls forsaid birdhouse having ends to be received by said slots, partitionmembers arranged within said side walls to form a plurality ofcompartments at different levels in cooperation with said side walls,apertures formed in rowsin said side walls, each leading to acompartment, and outwardly projecting horizontal ledges on said sidewalls over each row of apertures, said ledges having projecting portionsfor engaging said slots, retaining rods between said corner posts forholding said posts, sides, and ledges in assembled relation, a roof oversaid compartments comprising one or more cross pieces supported by saidside walls and a waterproof sheet of material covering said cross piecesand extending between said posts, and retaining bars having ends in saidslots and adapted to hold down said sheet material and said roof crosspieces.

MORRIS F. BOOTH.

